2003 ford focus ignition will not unlock with the key. I have had multiple problems with this. The first time was approx on the date listed below. After about 30 mins of jimmying the key in the ignition it finally unlocked. It has happened several more times since then and with about the same amount of time messing with it I was able to get it unlocked. Today, though, it locked up again and no matter what I do it will not unlock. Why is there no recall mandated on this issue since it seems to be a severe problem with the 2000-2003 ford focus. What if I were in an emergency situation and I could not get my car started? I have heard problems from fellow focus owners that even after replacing the ignition the same problem continued and all they get is a "sorry" from ford. This is unacceptable!!!
2003 Ford Focus electrical complaints
Page 7 of 19: complaints 161 to 190 of 522, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. The contact attempted to start the vehicle and observed that the key would not turn inside of the ignition and suddenly, the steering wheel locked. A local mechanic stated that the ignition lock needed to be replaced. There were no prior warnings. The current and failure mileages were 55,000. Updated 1/11/09 *cn the ignition lock had to be replaced because the key or the steering wheel would not move. The consumer stated she can feel the ignition starting to give her trouble again. Updated 01/14/10.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. The contact was attempting to exit the vehicle and the key would not release from the ignition. The contact also noticed that the gears would not shift into reverse. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer and there were no prior warnings. The current and failure mileages were 75867.
On my 2003 ford focus the ignition is gone it won't work. I was told by yankee ford that this is a regular problem with this type of car. It's something to do with the locking chamber it cost 400.+ dollars to fix. It I think this is a safety recall because something bad could happen be it on the road or in a parking lot late one night ..........say if someone is getting out of work and there sitting trying to start their car and it won't and then they get mugged robbed of raped...all because of fords faulty ignition lock chamber.....
The ignition cylinder will not turn.
My 2003 ford focus zts left me (a female) stranded last night for two hours at night while waiting for a friend to give me a ride home because when I came out of the store my key would not turn in the ignition. I tried a number of things for two hours and finally had to leave it at the store overnight. I tried again this morning, but same thing, key would not turn at all no matter what I did! This morning I went on the internet to ask.com and found that this is a major problem with the ford focus. There are over 100 complaints from other focus owners of also being stranded. This is a serious safety issue!!!!! Some woman/teenage girl is going to get abducted/raped and murdered because she is left stranded because the dumb key won't turn in the ignition!!!! Of course, first thing I did was go to ford to see if there is a recall on the ignition and found out no, there is no recall on this stupid car part!!! The ford dealership said it would cost me probably between $300 and $500 to fix it!!!! And it's a manufacturers defect!!!!! I will never, ever buy another ford vehicle of any type and I will tell everyone I know that ford makes piece of '!@#$% cars and to never buy one!!!!
I own a 2003 ford focus zts that has 140,000 miles. I know my vehicle is out of warranty. The ignition has been giving me problems that scare me from time to time that I may get stranded. You put the key in, go to turn the key to start and the ignition acts locked. You try again and again but still nothing. This has left me trying to turn my ignition for up to 10 minutes so far. This started about 2 months ago, once a week. Now it happens everyday, not every time, but at least 2 out of 5 times I go to start my vehicle it happens. This is definitely getting worse very quickly. This seems to be a common problem with the 2000-2003 ford focus models. I have heard that even if I take my vehicle to a ford dealership to have the ignition replaced which will cost up around $500, that the new ignition will probably do the same thing due to ford not correcting the problem in the design of the ignition. I will try calling a locksmith due to the cost being less. I just wanted to let you know this is a common problem occurring and should be checked into as a recall matter. I do not have the patience to wait for that to happen nor do I have the confidence that I will be able to continue to get my vehicle started so I will get this problem fixed.
My 2003 ford focus stranded me on 11/1/2009 because the key would not turn in the ignition. This is a known issue with this car for years 200 - 2003 and ford has done nothing about it. It cost me $300 to get the lock changed out in order to drive the car. This should have been recalled as it is very dangerous to strand owners like this.
2003 ford focus ignition wont turn resulting is a stranding situation, possibly in dangerous areas.
Upon leaving work last night, I put my key into the ignition and it would not turn. 4 people tried to turn the key, still without success. I tried to wiggle to steering wheel, the gear shift and lock and unlock the car before trying again. Finally, my car had to be towed. The towing man stated that this is the most common complaint on all the ford focuses he tows, as do many websites I have recently located. Overall, it seems that once I finished paying off my ford focus, it has been needing mechanic work ever since on various parts. I always get my routine oil changes and mileages check-ups. My car is now at the mechanic and I am awaiting an estimate.
I bought a 2003 ford focus from an auto dealer in august, 2009. I am having constant problems with the ignition cylinder - the key keeps getting stuck in it. I was told by the ford dealership here that they would charge $450 to have it repaired. Researching this online, I've found that it is a common problem with the 2003-2004 ford focus cars! Please consider a recall for the defect.
Ignition locks and I am unable to turn the key to start my ford focus 2003. I was left stranded with my sixth mo. Old son while running errands at a gas station. I had to have my vehicle towed and had to have the ignition replaced for $290.00 in addition to towing fees. This is the first time it has occurred, but was informed that this is an ongoing problem with the ford focus and was warned by the tech that replaced the ignition, that there is a very good chance it would happen again. I live in a minnesota where winters are very cold, and am concerned I will be stranded again with an infant because of a manufacturing default.
On tuesday my car operated normally. Wednesday morning I went to leave for work and my key would not turn. Fortunately I was at home, however I could have been stuck somewhere. I could have had an emergency and not been able to use my car. I had to have it towed to a dealership, miss 3 days of work and am out $510.
2003 ford focus ignition key and tumbler switch. I put the key in the ignition and it won't turn. I have been stranded numerous times. I understand the repairs are $400 +.
I have been driving this car for almost 2 years with no ignition problem. I drove to work, and ran a few work related errands throughout the day. As I was preparing to leave work for the day I put my key into the ignition and it felt as if it were completely locked. More than 3 people tried to turn the key and offered different ideas as to what the problem was. Triple a was called out and he explained this is a common problem with this model. He informed me the tumblers in the ignition have suddenly stopped dropping and recognizing my key. He then placed the key in the ignition, tapped in a few times to release the tumblers and it started. We then turned the vehicle off and struggled a bit to get the key out. It is now 2 days later and the situation has gotten worse and is affecting my transportation. I do not understand how it worked fine all day without a "sticking" feeling or a resistance to turn and now it is completely impossible to get in and turn the key with ease. It is simply stuck and no one can really explain why, other than poor quality within the ford motor company.
We drove our 2003 ford focus to the grocery store. Upon returning to the car, the key would not turn in the ignition and stranded my wife, 4 year old and 6 month old children and myself wondering what we could do.
With no warning, the key will not turn in the ignition. This happened immediately after I purchased the car, and it's happening again five years later.
Key won't turn in ignition of 2003 ford focus. This happens fairly often, but after several tries the key will usually work. Now the key won't work at all. Had to leave the car behind.
Ignition switch will not turn.
Ford focus key/ignition problem. The key won't turn in the ignition. After doing some research on this problem I found that this is a common problem for the years 2000 - 2003. Also found information that the oem parts used to fix this problem have the same defect. Luckily my daughter was in the parking lot at her apartment. But this could have happened anywhere, I.e. Highway, road, isolated area, etc... Bottom line is that ford is aware of the defective part and has made no effort to correct the defective part, other than making the owner pay $400 plus dollars to put in another oem defective part. Someone needs to investigate this part at ford.
The key was starting to stick then I could not get the in the ignition switch to start the car so my son that works for ford said to tap on the key then it should start so I did and it worked it is an on going thing I think that if ford knows there is a problem they should do a recall on it the car is a 2003 ford focus and is not under warranty like the other owners that have complained about the same problem so now I have to pay to get it fixed like all of the other owners it happens almost every day I go to get my car started it is very annoying.
I have a 2003 ford focus. A few months ago the key would not turn in the ignition at times. Usually after a few tries it would finally turn over. This past tuesday while at a grocery store my luck run out. Now the key will not work at all. The ignition is locked up. I called the dealerships and they said this was a common problem with this car. If it is a common problem then why isn't something being done about it? The tow truck driver and the place I had my car repaired where also familiar with this problem with this car. What do consumer's have to do not be taken advantage of by the ford company. Does someone have to be stranded out somewhere and killed before ford admits to a problem. I have always bought fords but after this I will never purchase another one.
I own a 2003 ford focus and the key will not start the car until it is gently tapped with a hammer (I learned how to do this by reading all the complaints about this problem on the internet) this is a safety problem for instance a person is alone in an unlit area after working the late shift they cant start their car cause the ignition mechanisms are defective ford recognizes the problem but for some reason has not been legally required to fix this defect by recalling all affected vehicles another safety issue is the fact that I have to carry a hammer in my car wherever I go the cops could say I am carrying it as a weapon.
My 19 year old son a full time college student, was stranded in a parking lot a distance from home because the key would not turn in the ignition. A few times he has had to, jiggle the key to start the car. And now it will not turn at all. The car is still stranded in a parking lot because it happened on the weekend. I am in fear for my sons safety, heading back to college 6 hours from home.
I own a 2003 ford focus. I just hit 70k miles yesterday, and starting today my ignition is completely locked up. My car is in park, the tires are not turned, etc. I went back in the house to try and find a solution and upon searching I found site after site, complaint after complaint about 2000-2003 ford focus' locking up like this after 70k miles, and that it costs $500 to fix. My car is no longer under warranty. This is clearly a manufacturing defect but is not covered by ford and has not been recalled yet. I do not have the money to replace this and now my car is useless and can't even be moved. I can only move the steering wheel about an inch and a half either way and the key in the ignition does not move at all.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. While driving the instrument panel failed to operate normally. The gas gauge and the speedometer intermittently failed to register the fuel level and speed. This occurs approximately 6 to 7 times a day. The dealer stated the cost to diagnose the failure is $70.00. A local mechanic stated that he is aware that the failure exist with her year, make and model vehicle; however, he would also have to mail the part to be repaired by another facility. The parts would be available within 2 days due to the odometer reading. The contact is requesting that the manufacturer assumes the cost to repair the vehicle. The failure mileage was 90000 and the current mileage was unknown.
I have a ford focus 2003 in which the ignition key will not turn and everytime I need to start the car I have to rock the steering wheel real hard right to left. One occasion the car locked up on me while back but fortunately I was able to stop it as I was moving very slow. This ignition problem is a very real safety issue and steps need to be taken to make ford fix the problem before someone gets killed. You only have to go to the internet and put in the search window "ford focus ignition problems" and it will tell you all you need to know. In fact I found out in california there is a clss action suite against ford for this very same problem. I will probably have a locksmith fix the ignition as I don't want topay double to the ford dealer.
Been having problems for the last four months with the ignition cylinder sticking. On aug 13, 2009 I went to start the car and the cylinder was stuck. I have a new cylinder to replace the old one.
The ignition switch on out 2003 ford focus continually jams and will not allow the key to turn and start the car. This can be remedied on occasion by hitting the key while in place, but the time it takes to get it unjammed varies. We're afraid this may happen while my wife and child are out somewhere and there is no one to help them, thus leaving them stranded. We've looked online and discovered this is an inherent problem with this model. This happens at least twice in any given day; sometimes it's more often than that. The only real solution we have at the moment is to leave the key in the ignition, but this makes the car prone to being stolen, thus leaving us with no transportation. We tried contacting ford directly and were told to call back on monday. As we understand it from our online research, this problem continues even after replacing the ignition switch. As far as we know, there is no recall about this, although a class action suit has been filed in california regarding this issue.
The ignition switch will not turn on my 2003 ford focus. This car only has 45000 miles and has been treated gently. I've read 100's of posts online about this same issue and yet ford is reluctant to recall this or even offer a discount.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2003 Ford Focus?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history